STAAR to replace TAKS testing for 2011-2012 school year

Published 6:00 pm, Monday, February 1, 2010

After being the determinant used to gauge student comprehension since 2003, the TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) test will soon be replaced.

Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, students in the graduating class of 2015 will take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), which will be “significantly more rigorous than previous tests,” according to a Texas Education Agency press release. Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott made the announcement late January.

The change in testing stems from end-of-course assessments mandated by Senate Bill 1031 in 2007 and new assessments for grades 3-8 by House Bill 3 in 2009.

“STAAR is in development now,” said DeEtta Culbertson, spokesperson for the Texas Education Agency. “HB 3 called for provisions in the testing like college readiness and closing the performance gaps between student groups. During the course of this development, we will be taking input from educators and administrators.”

Culbertson stressed that the new testing would be tougher, and students will be required to know more material and look at subjects more in depth.

“Right now, TAKS testing is more cumulative,” she said. “For example, in high school you might take a Language Arts test that is covering things you learned in eighth grade. With the new testing, a student will take an Algebra I course and then take an end-of-course assessment that will focus solely on Algebra I.”

Some may wonder how this new state testing will affect class time, since many teachers currently have a hard time preparing their students for the TAKS tests.

“With the end-of-course test, the student will be taking a final over that particular course,” Culbertson said. “Teachers will be teaching material students will need to know on the test. Staff development will play a big role in this and teachers will be given the opportunity to participate. At the same time, they will be looking at the material that is actually going to be on the test.”

Scott said the last accountability ratings based on TAKS scores will be issued in 2011, and the ratings will be suspended in 2012.

“By law, the district has to have a performance rating; however, I can’t speak about what will happen in 2012 yet,” Culbertson said. “We should have a transition plan by December.”